I feel that I’m a well-rounded outdoorsperson, with a solid base in useful survival skills, mountain sense, and woodscraft. I grew up entertaining myself in our backyard, which essentially was the Alaskan wilderness. I would pick berries, explore the flora and fauna, and quite literally just crawl around out there for hours. Now I’m just […]

This blogger’s long dreamed-of day is finally here: Outdoor Retailer trade show is ditching Utah. More specifically, from a press release from the Outdoor Industry Association: “Outdoor Retailer will not include the state of Utah in the RFP process for future show locations.” Let’s not kid ourselves, this happened because of hero company and industry […]

I have long fantasized about starting an outdoor advice column. Admittedly this idea stemmed in part from the popularity of my “Outdoor Dating” series. In this hypothetical advice column, I’d take inquiries from wayward outdoorsy souls; such things as “With what do I wipe after I pee outside?” and “I love my boyfriend, but he […]

I’ve heard this chirpy slogan used to console (and ineptly encourage) people struggling with the difficulties of sport. It’s that time-worn classic scenario; one weekend warrior wanting to learn mountain biking teams up with a buddy, an obsessive exerciser who supplements her daily three hour rides with a few morning hours on the trainer, and […]

OK, so go read this: Male only marathon? Boycott please. Now read the email I just sent to the organizers (and copied to the sponsors/partners of the event): Hello, I’m writing to you to express how disappointing and wrong it is for you and your sponsors/partners to support gender exclusion by holding a men-only […]

There is only one person in the world that I let work on my ski and mountaineering boots. This is because I’m extremely picky about boots and a) I think most gear store are full of shit when it comes to boot fit and b) I have specific preferences that my favorite boot fitter fully […]

I am reprinting this from an informative email sent out by an official. I’ve stripped out all the identifying information that I could. I just wanted to put the information out there, especially for Alaskans who aren’t aware of the brazen habits of trappers. Our dog, Taylor, was caught in a Conibear trap on a […]

I’ve been in male-dominated fields most of my life. This isn’t because I’ve got male interests, it’s because almost everything is male-dominated because the men of the world can’t share, especially when something is fun to do or garners admiration and success. Male is the default, the standard, the starting point. Men feel entitled to […]

If you are a regular reader you have undoubtedly notice our new writer, Marie, who has taken the proverbial ball and run fast and far with it. Reading her reviews, I hearken back to the days in which I was an eager participant in the outdoor industry way of life. I grew up an outdoor […]

I’ve written a lot about trail conflicts. I’ve been annoyed at most user groups and I’ve also been a member of most user groups. This year I experienced what it’s like to be a vulnerable trail user. I’ve been mostly a walker since having spine surgery. Even after being cleared to ride a bike, I […]